Porter Craft Beer Tasting - November, 2012

For November's Craft Beer Tasting we will be tasting Brown Porters, Robust Porters, Baltic Porters and Smoked Porters as well as Flavored Porters (vanilla bean, chipotle pepper, etc.). That should include all the Porter craft beers out there so if it says Porter on the label drink it and tell us what you though of it.

The 2012 Pilot Series Baltic Porter Ale (brewed with cherries, brown sugar, vanilla beans and oak chips) from Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska pours out black as black can be in color with no light getting through and is topped with a two finger, mocha colored head that reduces down quite quickly to a thin film with a small collar. On the nose, this smells like a barrel-aged craft beer. Probably a result of the oak chips and vanilla beans. Aromas of roasted grain, sweet cherry, oak, vanilla and light bittersweet chocolate. In the mouth, rich and very smooth. Flavors of cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, charred oak, roasted grain and a distinct sweetness from the brown sugar. Full bodied. Low to moderate carbonation. Some lacing on the glass. Thick, chewy, slightly viscous mouthfeel. The finish is long and as the layers of flavor peel away the oaky, sweet vanilla is left.

A wonderful beer with exceptional flavor that comes at you in waves. On the sweet side right now but at 9.8% ABV this will age very well and should get even better, if that is possible. Highly recommended.

Alaskan 2012 Pilot Series Baltic Porter Ale
Alaskan Brewing Company, Juneau, AK
22 ounce bottle, 9.8% ABV
The 2012 Pilot Series Baltic Porter Ale (brewed with cherries, brown sugar, vanilla beans and oak chips) from Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska pours out black as black can be in color with no light getting through and is topped with a two finger, mocha colored head that reduces down quite quickly to a thin film with a small collar. On the nose, this smells like a barrel-aged craft beer. Probably a result of the oak chips and vanilla beans. Aromas of roasted grain, sweet cherry, oak, vanilla and light bittersweet chocolate. In the mouth, rich and very smooth. Flavors of cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, charred oak, roasted grain and a distinct sweetness from the brown sugar. Full bodied. Low to moderate carbonation. Some lacing on the glass. Thick, chewy, slightly viscous mouthfeel. The finish is long and as the layers of flavor peel away the oaky, sweet vanilla is left.
A wonderful beer with exceptional flavor that comes at you in waves. On the sweet side right now but at 9.8% ABV this will age very well and should get even better, if that is possible. Highly recommended.

The Anchor Porter from Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California pours out pitch black in color with some ruby hues showing on the very edge and is topped with a large, mocha colored, foamy heady that very slowly reduces down to a thick film with a large collar. On the nose, wonderful roast grains permeate the nose. Aromas of roast grain, coffee, chocolate, dark fruit and molasses. In the mouth, smooth and creamy with wonderful flavor. Flavors of deep roast grain, molasses, bittersweet chocolate, some french roast coffee bean, date and light earthy hops. Medium to full bodied. Vibrant carbonation. Thick sheets of lacing on the glass. Slight chew in an otherwise smooth mouthfeel. The finish has good length and lovely roast flavors hanging on right to the end.

An excellent American Porter and still the benchmark to which other American Porters should be compared. Wonderful flavor and exceptional balance in a superbly crafted beer. If you've overlooked buying the Anchor Porter in the store you've really been missing out. Highly recommended.

Anchor Porter
Anchor Brewing Company, San Francisco, CA
12 ounce bottle, 5.6% ABV, Bottled on April 18, 2012 (2AR)
The Anchor Porter from Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California pours out pitch black in color with some ruby hues showing on the very edge and is topped with a large, mocha colored, foamy heady that very slowly reduces down to a thick film with a large collar. On the nose, wonderful roast grains permeate the nose. Aromas of roast grain, coffee, chocolate, dark fruit and molasses. In the mouth, smooth and creamy with wonderful flavor. Flavors of deep roast grain, molasses, bittersweet chocolate, some french roast coffee bean, date and light earthy hops. Medium to full bodied. Vibrant carbonation. Thick sheets of lacing on the glass. Slight chew in an otherwise smooth mouthfeel. The finish has good length and lovely roast flavors hanging on right to the end.
An excellent American Porter and still the benchmark to which other American Porters should be compared. Wonderful flavor and exceptional balance in a superbly crafted beer. If you've overlooked buying the Anchor Porter in the store you've really been missing out. Highly recommended.

The Silk Porter from Hoppin' Frog Brewing Company in Akron, Ohio pours out a very dark brown in color with just a tiny bit of light coming through on the edges and is topped with a one finger, tan, dense head that slowly reduces down to a thin film with a quarter inch collar. On the nose, lovely roast flavors with chocolate and coffee. In the mouth, silky smooth, hence the name Silk Porter. Flavors of roast grain, fresh coffee, bittersweet chocolate and a little charcoal. Medium to full bodied. Moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth and quite creamy. Sheets of lacing on the glass. The finish is fairly long with the roast grain almost charred flavors outlasting the coffee and chocolate.

A really good porter with excellent flavor. More roast that sweet in its flavor profile which bodes well for this craft beer. The alcohol is well hidden. Recommended.

Hoppin' Frog Silk Porter
Hoppin' Frog Brewing Co., Akron, OH
22 ounce bottle, 6.2% ABV, 26 IBU
The Silk Porter from Hoppin' Frog Brewing Company in Akron, Ohio pours out a very dark brown in color with just a tiny bit of light coming through on the edges and is topped with a one finger, tan, dense head that slowly reduces down to a thin film with a quarter inch collar. On the nose, lovely roast flavors with chocolate and coffee. In the mouth, silky smooth, hence the name Silk Porter. Flavors of roast grain, fresh coffee, bittersweet chocolate and a little charcoal. Medium to full bodied. Moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth and quite creamy. Sheets of lacing on the glass. The finish is fairly long with the roast grain almost charred flavors outlasting the coffee and chocolate.
A really good porter with excellent flavor. More roast that sweet in its flavor profile which bodes well for this craft beer. The alcohol is well hidden. Recommended.

The Ten Pin PorTer from Ska Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado pours out mahogany brown in color with just a little light getting through and is topped with a one finger, khaki colored head that reduces down to foamy patches with a small collar. On the nose, lovely roast grain aromas along with molasses, peat and a little dark fruit. In the mouth, very smooth with good flavor. Flavors of roast grain, burnt toffee, earth, some dark fruit and a hint of chocolate. Medium bodied. Good carbonation. Sheets of lacing on the glass. Silky mouthfeel. The finish is long and dries out at the end with the roast, bitterness hanging on the longest.

A solid porter that is both smooth and very drinkable. Pretty close to a sessionable porter with wonderful flavor and just enough roast goodness to give some bitterness. Recommended.

Ska Ten Pin PorTer
Ska Brewing Company, Durango, CO
12 ounce bottle, 5.5% ABV, Best by 21 JAN 13
The Ten Pin PorTer from Ska Brewing Company in Durango, Colorado pours out mahogany brown in color with just a little light getting through and is topped with a one finger, khaki colored head that reduces down to foamy patches with a small collar. On the nose, lovely roast grain aromas along with molasses, peat and a little dark fruit. In the mouth, very smooth with good flavor. Flavors of roast grain, burnt toffee, earth, some dark fruit and a hint of chocolate. Medium bodied. Good carbonation. Sheets of lacing on the glass. Silky mouthfeel. The finish is long and dries out at the end with the roast, bitterness hanging on the longest.
A solid porter that is both smooth and very drinkable. Pretty close to a sessionable porter with wonderful flavor and just enough roast goodness to give some bitterness. Recommended.

The pour was a very dark brown with a reddish hue and an average (1-2 finger) light brown rocky head that was mostly diminishing, down to a thin puddling and medium collar that produced fair runny lacing.

The aroma was of dark roasted malts and a sweaty leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee and a hint of molasses.

The taste was very malty with a touch of bitter chocolate and a hint of sweet molasses in the beginning, and then slowly progressed with a slightly bitter sweet coffee flavor towards the end. The flavor hung around for a short while with the mild bitter coffee taste becoming more dominant as time pasted.

Mouthfeel was a bit below medium in body and rather thin in texture with a somewhat prickly carbonation.

Overall a pretty basic Porter with a good flavor and easy drinkability, I could see myself drinking a few of these...

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Gearys "London Porter"
D.L. Geary Brewing Company - Portland, Maine USA
Porter (ABV 4.2%)
[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]
Rating: 3.4/5.0
The pour was a very dark brown with a reddish hue and an average (1-2 finger) light brown rocky head that was mostly diminishing, down to a thin puddling and medium collar that produced fair runny lacing.
The aroma was of dark roasted malts and a sweaty leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee and a hint of molasses.
The taste was very malty with a touch of bitter chocolate and a hint of sweet molasses in the beginning, and then slowly progressed with a slightly bitter sweet coffee flavor towards the end. The flavor hung around for a short while with the mild bitter coffee taste becoming more dominant as time pasted.
Mouthfeel was a bit below medium in body and rather thin in texture with a somewhat prickly carbonation.
Overall a pretty basic Porter with a good flavor and easy drinkability, I could see myself drinking a few of these...
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The pour was an extremely dark brown with some red highlights and an average (1-2 finger) light brown creamy head that diminished down to a thin film with a small collar, thus creating fair spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a dark roasted malt and a sweet leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, vanilla and a hint of lactose sugar.

The taste was very malty and a little bitter-sweet with a touch of chocolate from the onset, becoming a tad bitterer with a nice large dose of coffee towards the finish. The flavor lasted a little longer than expected, with a mildly bitter java taste settling on the taste buds along with a slight milky sweetness and a mild alcohol warming sensation at the very end.

Mouthfeel was medium in body and dry yet creamy in texture with a moderate carbonation.

Overall a very flavorful and satisfying Porter that possessed a moderate ABV and an awesome drinkability, this is one I need to watch out for...

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Shipyard Imperial Porter" (Pugsley Signature Series)
Shipyard Brewing Company - Portland, Maine USA
Imperial Porter (ABV 7.1%)
[Suggested Glassware: Snifter]
Rating: 3.6/5.0
The pour was an extremely dark brown with some red highlights and an average (1-2 finger) light brown creamy head that diminished down to a thin film with a small collar, thus creating fair spotty lacing.
The aroma was of a dark roasted malt and a sweet leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, vanilla and a hint of lactose sugar.
The taste was very malty and a little bitter-sweet with a touch of chocolate from the onset, becoming a tad bitterer with a nice large dose of coffee towards the finish. The flavor lasted a little longer than expected, with a mildly bitter java taste settling on the taste buds along with a slight milky sweetness and a mild alcohol warming sensation at the very end.
Mouthfeel was medium in body and dry yet creamy in texture with a moderate carbonation.
Overall a very flavorful and satisfying Porter that possessed a moderate ABV and an awesome drinkability, this is one I need to watch out for...
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I have a smoked porter from Rock Art in Vermont that I'll be trying soon. But in the meantime, since Mark and KaJII mentioned them, here are some posts I did on Geary's London Porter:
http://tombedell.com/golf/golf/lifestyle/3310/tap-beer-of-the-week-gearys-london-porter/
and on Anchor Porter:
http://tombedell.com/golf/golf/lifestyle/940/tap-beer-of-the-week-43-anchor-porter/

I have a smoked porter from Rock Art in Vermont that I'll be trying soon. But in the meantime, since Mark and KaJII mentioned them, here are some posts I did on Geary's London Porter:
http://tombedell.com/golf/golf/lifestyle/3310/tap-beer-of-the-week-gearys-london-porter/
and on Anchor Porter:
http://tombedell.com/golf/golf/lifestyle/940/tap-beer-of-the-week-43-anchor-porter/